I always knew I wanted to go to college out of state, but I didn't always believe I would be able to go through with it. Deciding I wanted to spend the next four years 1,108 miles away from the place I had lived my entire life, from my family and friends, as a senior in high school, was terrifying. Right before I packed up and left I began to worry that I didn't make the right decision, but as soon as I made it to Florida Gulf Coast University, I knew I did.

Here are six things I've gained when I left home for college...

1. Independence

Being so far away from home meant that I had to learn to handle things on my own. I know my parents would do anything for me, but the distance does limit their abilities to help. I don't have the luxury of going home on the weekend when it's been a rough week or having my mom stop in and check on me when I'm deathly sick, but that's exactly what I needed. The freedom, the responsibility, and the independence that being out of state really helped me grow up, and into a better, more self-sufficient version of myself.

2. Confidence

I've gained so much confidence since I had to start from scratch and build entirely new relationships with people who came from a whole different background than me. Being an out-of-state student is what gave me the courage to study abroad, my thought process was; well I'm away at school for four months at a time anyway, what's the difference if I'm just away in another country. Well, there is a difference definitely, but either way, if I hadn't left Maryland I wouldn't have left America. This will help me in the future because now I'm confident enough in myself and my abilities to never let the fear of distance hold me back from a job opportunity.

3. Appreciation

Now when I'm home I'm happy to be there, and that wasn't always the case. I'm so much more grateful for the amazing life I've been given than I was in high school. Distance really does only make the heart grow fonder. The truth is sometimes it can be work to stay in contact with friends who are back home, but the ones I'm willing to make time for really showed me who I want in my life forever, and who was just out of convenience or habit. When I'm at school, I'm happy to be here, but I'm also happy and excited to go back home and vice versa.

4. Experience

I've gained so much life experience by living away at school in Florida. I've come in contact with so many different types of people and situations that I ever dealt with in my small town back home. Some of the most important lessons I have learned haven't come from the classroom. Experiences are priceless, even if out of state tuition is pricey.

5. Open-Mindedness

For someone who would have never considered herself shelter, I had no idea how much I really was. Being around the same people for as long as I can remember really did impact how I grew up and what I thought about the world. It's a breath of fresh air being able to step away from everything I've ever known, and finally form my own opinions.

6. Adaptability

Now I've never been the most adaptable gal, I'll admit I tend to like things a certain way, usually the way they've always been. So, moving down South and living in a dorm with people I've never met was a challenge for me, but it taught me that things aren't always going to go my way, and I'm just going to have to make the best of it.

I knew I wasn't meant to stay in the same small town my entire life, and going to school out-of-state was the first step I needed to take to find my own way. Taking that leap of faith brought me out of my comfort zone and helped me figure out what I really want to do with my life.